From Malaya (Jan22): Races for top PAF, navy posts tighten
AT least eight senior officers are among contenders to the post of Air Force and Navy chiefs.
Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on April 30 and Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano, on May 1.
In the Air Force chief race, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, AFP deputy chief of staff for plans (J5), reportedly has the advantage.
A source said Delgado is closely associated with the family of President Aquino having been assigned with the Presidential Security Group in the 1980s, during the time of Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, the 53-year-old Delgado also served as senior military assistant to the incumbent president a couple of years ago.
“Very much (qualified),” the source said, adding that Delgado is a combat pilot and flew MG-520 attack helicopters. He said Delgado also served as commander of the 15th Strike Wing before he assumed his current post.
“As J5, he is instrumental in our capability upgrade as a force, jointly with the AFP. (He has) sound moral background and character,” the source also said.
Three other officers are reportedly vying for the top Air Force position. They are AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgillo Trinidad (PMA Class ‘82), 3rd Air Division commander Maj. Gen. Nicanor Vivar (PMA Class ‘82) and Chief of Air Staff Maj. Gen. Edgar Fallorina (PMA Class ‘83).
Dela Cruz is a member of PMA Class ‘80.
For the post of Navy chief, among the contenders are Rear Admirals Leopoldo Alano (PMA Class ‘82), commander of the Naval Forces Central and younger brother of the current chief; Chief of Naval Staff Jesus Millan (PMA class ‘82); Isabelo Gador (PMA Class ‘81), chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command; and Renan Suarez (PMA Class ‘82), chief of the Naval Education and Training Command (PMA Class ‘82.)
The elder Alano belongs to PMA Class ‘79.
A Navy officer said Gador, a PMA classmate of the AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, has a big chance of becoming Navy chief.
“He supervised the Navy SEALs and Marines during the Zambo crisis. He had a good accomplishment and he was recognized by Pnoy (President Aquino) because of that,” he said referring to the attack in Zamboanga City last September by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes (Class ‘80) is also retiring on February 7.
Earlier reports said the contenders are Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang (Class ‘81), Central Command chief Maj. Gen. John Bonafos (Class ‘82), 7th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Hernando Iriberri (Class ‘83), and 4th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya (Class ‘83).